Afternoon Ride to Arakawa (the Ara River) — cycling paradise

I read of a supposed cycling paradise that could take one all the way from the city to the foot of mountains, or if one went the opposite directions, to the edge of the Sea. As I’ve only so far rode middling rides through traffic, red lights and dull gray buildings, such a place, if it existed, would be my yellow brick road.

…Utilizing for the first time tech to preview my riding route, I made use of Google Maps’ satellite images to “see” my way to the river. If only I had dragged on a little bit more, I would have realized the river I saw in the satellite images was but a mere tributary to the mighty Arakawa. … It might have been hopeless if I hadn’t spotted another real rider as I was paused on the side of a street, frustrated. … At first we just went to a large river I already followed that lead only to a dead-end one way, and the other direction I knew to be the way toward the mountains, when this time I wanted to ride to the Sea. … For I saw the rider I was falling duck in between a gate in a fence I would NEVER have thought to go through, which led into a small park-type playground area.

…Lo, riding up onto a small ridge the vast expanse of the Akakawa unfolded like the King of Gondor’s standard, and I went breathless for a moment. … By this time it was too late for me to ride all the way to the Sea, so I thought to just go in the direction of the mountains for a time.

…But of course this is me we are talking about, so there had to be disaster as I am never, NEVER allowed a moment of relief in this forsaken lifetime.

…My ride was over, and I might even end up having to take a taxi or walk the 20 miles back to Shinjuku. … I thought i was saved, but this minor tightening only lasted for a few hundred meters at a time and would not be a solution for getting me home. Asking the tiny ojisan at the maintenance shack of the aforementioned small park if he had an allen wrench, he said no, but pointed toward an apartment complex across the Sumidakawa. He pointed me in the right direction as there was a “mama cherry” bike shop there whose owner tightened up the loose crank in no time for free.

Not wanting to let total bull ruin my day as it ALWAYS tries to do, I went back to Arakawa and grinded about 4km against the wind in the Sea direction averaging 15 to 16mph then rolled back with the wind at 20mph+.

…I even made a quick pit stop at a friend’s apartment that was on the route back (just 10 minutes from my own apartment actually). … Though not the 60 miles I would have liked to have ridden, and even though I didn’t get to go all the way to the Sea, it was nevertheless still a success as I have found a land route to Arakawa and when I return there it will be much easier to find the second time (I hope).

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• First Fall 2008 Cycling
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